Copyright violation: Software giant Adobe lodges police complaint

Indore: Software giant Adobe Systems Incorporated on Tuesday filed an FIR with the police alleging copyright violation by a photo studio for using unlicensed photoshop software in Pardeshipura area.

Pardeshipura police along with some officials from Adobe raided a studio and seized four CPUs in the morning.

Pardeshipura TI Sudheer Das said, "Three persons from Adobe came to police station alleging copyright violation by Janta photo studio in our area." So, we raided the studio and seized four CPUs, he added.

TI Sudheer Das said, "The CPUs were verified by the company officials in the police station and it was found that they are using pirated versions of the software."

An advocate representing Adobe and two officials from the company's Delhi office came to the city to clamp down on those using pirated version of company software.

Indore photographers and videographers' association president Sachin Gupta said, "The company officials had 14-page full of names of photo studios in Indore and Bhopal, who they said are violating copyright of the company." These big companies are targeting small businesses intentionally, he added.

Sources from the Adobe said, "This is company's anti-piracy drive to tell people that the use of unlicensed software programs by businesses is a copyright violation and can lead to a number of negative consequences." The quality of pictures goes down, ultimately the consumer loses, he added.

Adobe produces software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design, Dreamweaver, Pagemaker etc. The cost each software ranges from Rs 60,000 to Rs 2,00,000. The magnitude of loss to company runs into millions of dollars across the globe, he said.

Last week M/s Ultra Distributors Pvt. Ltd and Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd. have filed similar complaints of copyright violation against business playing their music without obtaining licenses.

Police said they have registered a case under section 63 of copyright violation act.